According to The Mirror, West Brom now look set to demand up to £25m for Salomon Rondon after the striker’s £16.5m clause expired on Thursday – a move that will almost certainly end our interest if true.
It seemed clear all summer that Ashley was reluctant to spend £16m on a player nearing his 30’s – with us pushing to include Gayle in the deal as a way of cutting costs – but this will surely be the final nail in the coffin for Rafa Benitez as far as his attempts to sign the Venezuelan are concerned.
I find it hard to believe that they can demand such a fee for a player who’s 29 in September and out of contract next summer (not forgetting he’s been anything but prolific during three seasons in England), but this is the price you pay when you hesitate over deals.
Here’s a snippet from The Mirror’s piece on the West Brom striker, claiming we’ve now missed the deadline to sign him at £16.5m:
“Newcastle’s pussyfooting over Salomon Rondon is set to enrage Rafa Benitez – as the deal now might not be done.
“The West Brom striker has been linked with a move to St James’ Park this summer but the deal never crossed the line.
“He was allowed to leave for £16.5million following the club’s relegation to the Championship.
“But it is claimed now that the release clause was only active until the start of August, meaning Newcastle have missed the deadline if they want to do a deal on the cheap.
“West Brom will now likely ask for around £25million – and it could prove too pricey for the Toon.”
We may be receiving the £22m Mitrovic fee in instalments, but the time to move on Rondon was when that deal went through.
Instead, we did our typical ‘wheeling and dealing’ and pursued a potential ‘loan swap’ that would see Dwight Gayle go the other way – a deal he is clearly not keen on based on what we’ve read this week.
Can you see anyway of us resurrecting this deal for Rondon?
Stop moaning, happy about this as didn’t want to Rondon anyway.
Simon(Quote)
25 large for a geezer thats 30 and struggles to score………dodged a bullet there methinks.
Porciestreet(Quote)
Seems that this deal didnt even get to the start line never mind over the finish..
Fatboy strikes again.
Porciestreet(Quote)
I don’t think any Newcastle supporter would blame Rafa if he did not sign a new contract but god help Ashley if he doesn’t playing with fire I think
Eddy(Quote)
Dilly dally and the was going up!
Baggie Phil(Quote)
Moaning? It’s reality mate. Rafa wanted him – we’ve messed up.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Not sure if Rafa’s first choice or not but at 16.5m was too much if this is to be believed west Bromwich are asking stupid money for a player they want rid of, they will either be stuck with a player who doesn’t want to be there on high wages or they will sell for much less closer to transfer window. We are in a position (by the way Ashley does things) where we look desperate to sign average players
Clive(Quote)
^^^
lick my ball sack ashley(Quote)